The Canopy: Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch
Tucson, Arizona
Experience the beauty and biodiversity of the Southwest on this unforgettable Canopy journey to Tucson, Arizona. We’ll explore the region’s incredible landscapes, rich birdlife, and Audubon’s vital conservation work in the area.
Our trip begins at the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch, a 8,000-acre sanctuary managed by the National Audubon Society and dedicated to the study and protection of native grassland ecosystems. We’ll enjoy a guided driving tour and birding excursion across the ranch, learning how Audubon’s research is helping restore and sustain this remarkable habitat. Keep your binoculars ready — this area is home to species like the Chihuahuan Meadowlark, Montezuma Quail, and Botteri's Sparrows.
The next day, we’ll visit one of Arizona’s most beloved birding destinations: the Paton Center for Hummingbirds, owned and managed by the Tucson Bird Alliance. Originally the backyard of the Paton family, this site is now a thriving sanctuary famous for its dazzling diversity of hummingbirds and other desert species. As we explore the center’s gardens and feeders, we’ll look for Violet-crowned Hummingbirds, Gray Hawks, Varied Buntings, Thick-billed Kingbirds, and many more local species that make this oasis a must-see.
Between birding adventures, we’ll savor local Southwestern cuisine, take in Tucson’s vibrant culture, and enjoy a weekend filled with science, discovery, and connection.
Space is limited—reserve your spot today!

Montezuma Quail. Photo: Isaac Sanchez/Audubon Photography Awards.
During this lunchtime webinar, Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch Fellow Laura Nicholson will explore the identification and biology of this emblematic tree, the ways that emerging pathogens, drought, climate change, and other threats may be impacting its survival, and practical steps we can take to protect the Emory oak and the southwestern ecosystems that depend on it.
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